Johl tied 26th at Omega HK Open

Amandeep Johl, continuing his slide down the leaderboard shot a two-over 72 to slip to tied-26th position at one-under 209 after the penultimate round of the US $700,000 Omega Hong Kong Open, being played at the par-70 Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling.

The tournament is a joint-sanctioned event on the Asian and European PGA Tours and the season starting event on the European Tour's 2004 season.

Sweden's Christopher Hanell shot a fine five-under 65 to assume a one-stroke lead at eight-under 202.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington along with Thai golfer Prayad Marksaeng is tied at second spot one stroke adrift of the leader.

Overnight leader England's Richard McEvoy was tied fourth along with fellow Englishman Chris Gane, Swede, Fredrik Jacobson and American Rob Rashell at 204.

Johl, who started the tournament with a fine 66 for the tied-second position, has failed to break-par thereafter. The bearded Chandigarh pro shot a 71 yesterday to slip to the tied-eighth spot but after taking one stroke more than his second round effort today will be hard pressed to finish in the top-ten unless he does something spectacular on the final day.

Johl's round comprised just two birdies on the seventh and 17th, in comparison to four bogeys on the third, sixth, ninth and 18th.

"I am struggling for my feel. This is causing me anxious moments on the course and thus the mistakes," said the SAIL sponsored golfer.

"On the whole, I am not playing all that bad.  This is just a phase that will pass," added the 14th ranked golfer on the Asian PGA Tour's Order of Merit.Another Chandigarh based golfer Harmeet Kahlon played to even par today for the tied-35th spot at level-par 210. 

The 2002 Hero Honda Masters champion started with a bogey going on to drop three more shots on the ninth, 15th  and 18th. Birdies on the third, tenth, 12th and 13th saved the day for him.

Delhi's Arjun Singh also tied-35th at 210, birdied the first, third, 12th and 13th and bogeyed the fifth, ninth, 14th and 15th for his 70.

Hanell's round of 65 included five birdies and no bogey.  His birdie holes proved to be the third, sixth, seventh, tenth and 17th.

Scores (after 54 holes): 202_Christopher Hanell(68,69,65); 203_Padraig Harrington(67,69,67), Prayad Marksaeng(67,69,67); 204_Fredrik Jacobson(68,65,71), Richard McEvoy(62,68,74), Rob Rashell(70,67,67), Chris Gane(70,67,67); 205_Hennie Otto(68,68,69), Thomas Bjorn(69,71,65); 206_Adam Frazer(69,68,69), Barry Lane(67,72,67), Darren Clarke(68,69,69), David Carter(70,71,65), Gary Rusnak(68,70,68).

Indians:  209_Amandeep Johl(66,71,72); 210_Harmeet Kahlon(68,72,70), Arjun Singh(69,71,70).